Europe threatened by Cold War amid growing xenophobia, Islamophobia, says Pak PM

New York [USA], Sept. 22 (ANI): Asserting that a new Cold War threatens to engulf Europe, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said intolerance has revived the ghosts of xenophobia and Islamophobia in many countries. "A new Cold War threatens to engulf Europe. The momentum there towards "greater union" has already reversed. Barricades and walls are going up, especially against the tide of misery flowing out of a turbulent Middle East. In many countries, intolerance has revived the ghosts of xenophobia and Islamophobia," he said in his remarks at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He further said the world is at a historic inflection point, adding the international order established after the Second World War is passing away but a new order has yet to emerge. "Competition between the major powers is becoming more confrontational. This can pose serious threats to peace across Asia," he said. Sharif stressed that turmoil is intensifying in the Middle East and international efforts to defeat Daesh are, therefore, urgent. "For this, it is essential to reconcile the divergent objectives and priorities of regional and external powers," he said. Further talking on terrorism, he said that Pakistan has long been a victim of terrorism, adding that his nation has a vital stake in fighting the menace. "My country has been the principal victim of terrorism including that supported, sponsored and financed from abroad," he said adding, "We will not allow externally sponsored terrorism and threats of destabilization to cause turbulence in Pakistan. Tens of thousands of our citizens and thousands of our security personnel have been killed or injured in terrorist attacks." He said that Islamabad's comprehensive strategy of law enforcement and targeted military operations has produced remarkable results and enabled Pakistan to turn the tide against terrorism. "Pakistan's Zarb-e-Azb Operation is the largest, most robust and most successful anti-terrorism campaign anywhere in the world, deploying 200,000 of our security forces," he said. He also called upon the international community to collaborate in the fight against terrorism, saying it is now a global phenomenon. "The international community must coordinate its efforts to accomplish this. These efforts should be taken collectively and not unilaterally by the passage of any laws with extra-territorial application targeted against certain countries," he said. Talking about the peace process in Afghanistan, he said, "After 15 years of the current war in Afghanistan, the international community agrees that the only road to a lasting peace in that country is through a dialogue between the Government in Kabul and the Afghan Taliban," adding that Pakistan has long proposed this as the most viable course to end decades of conflict in Afghanistan. He said that Islamabad has been facilitating the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan but there have been setbacks. "Progress will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there is no military solution to the Afghan war and work assiduously through a meaningful dialogue process for achieving reconciliation and peace at home," he said.(ANI)